For other uses, see Polydamas

Polydamas of Pharsalus was a Thessalian statesman. He was entrusted by his fellow-citizens about 375 BC

375 BC

Year 375 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the First year without Tribunate or Consulship...

, with the supreme government of their native town. Polydamas formed an alliance with Sparta, with which state his family had long been connected by the bonds of public hospitality (Proxeny

Proxeny

Proxeny or Proxenia in ancient Greece was an arrangement whereby a citizen hosted foreign ambassadors at his own expense, in return for honorary titles from the state. The citizen was called Proxenos or Proxeinos...

) ; but he soon after entered into a treaty with Jason of Pherae

Jason of Pherae

Jason of Pherae was the ruler of Thessaly during the period just before Philip II of Macedon came to power. He had succeeded his father Lycophron I of Pherae as tyrant of Pherae and was appointed tagus, or king, of Thessaly in the 370s BC and soon extended his control to much of the surrounding...

. On the murder of Jason in 370 BC

370 BC

Year 370 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Capitolinus, Medullinus, Praetextatus, Cornelius, Volusus and Poplicola...

, his brother Polyphron, who succeeded to his power, put to death Polydamas and eight other most distinguished citizens of Pharsalus.